Job 21
1 Så tog Job til Orde og svarede:
But Job answered and said:
2 "Hør dog, hør mine Ord, lad det være Trøsten, I giver!
Hear attentively my words, And let this be your consolation.
3 Find jer nu i, at jeg taler, siden kan I jo håne!
Bear with me, that I may speak; And after I have spoken, mock on!
4 Gælder min Klage Mennesker? Hvi skulde jeg ej være utålmodig?
Is my complaint concerning man? Why then should I not be angry?
5 Vend jer til mig og stivn af Rædsel, læg Hånd på Mund!
Look upon me, and be astonished, And lay your hand upon your mouth!
6 Jeg gruer, når jeg tænker derpå, mit Legeme gribes af Skælven:
When I think of it, I am confounded; Trembling taketh hold of my flesh.
7 De gudløse, hvorfor lever de, bliver gamle, ja vokser i Kraft?
Why is it that the wicked live, Grow old, yea, become mighty in substance?
8 Deres Æt har de blivende hos sig, deres Afkom for deres Øjne;
Their children are established in their sight with them, And their offspring before their eyes.
9 deres Huse er sikre mod Rædsler, Guds Svøbe rammer dem ikke;
Their houses are in peace, without fear, And the rod of God cometh not upon them.
10 ej springer deres Tyr forgæves, Koen kælver, den kaster ikke;
Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; Their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
11 de slipper deres Drenge ud som Får, deres Børneflok boltrer sig ret;
They send forth their little ones like a flock, And their children dance.
12 de synger til Pauke og Citer, er glade til Fløjtens Toner;
They sing to the timbrel and harp, And rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They spend their days in prosperity, And in a moment go down to the under-world. (Sheol h7585)
14 skønt de siger til Gud: "Gå fra os, at kende dine Veje er ikke vor Lyst!
And yet they say unto God, “Depart from us! We desire not the knowledge of thy ways!
15 Den Almægtige? Hvad han? Skal vi tjene ham? Hvad Gavn at banke på hos ham?"
Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what will it profit us, if we pray to him?”
16 Er ej deres Lykke i deres Hånd og gudløses Råd ham fjernt?
[[Ye say, ]] “Lo! their prosperity is not secure in their hands! Far from me be the conduct of the wicked!”
17 Når går de gudløses Lampe ud og når kommer Ulykken over dem? Når deler han Loddet ud i sin Vrede,
How often is it, that the lamp of the wicked is put out? And that destruction cometh upon them, And that He dispenseth to them tribulations in his anger?
18 så de bliver som Strå for Vinden, som Avner, Storm fører bort?
How often are they as stubble before the wind, Or as chaff, which the whirlwind carrieth away?
19 Gemmer Gud hans Ulykkeslod til hans Børn? Ham selv gengælde han, så han mærker det,
“But” [[say ye]] “God layeth up his iniquity for his children.” Let him requite the offender, and let him feel it!
20 lad ham selv få sit Vanheld at se, den Almægtiges Vrede at drikke!
Let his own eyes see his destruction, And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty!
21 Thi hvad bryder han sig siden om sit Hus, når hans Måneders Tal er udrundet?
For what concern hath he for his household after him, When the number of his own months is completed?
22 Kan man vel tage Gud i Skole, ham, som dømmer de højeste Væsner?
Who then shall impart knowledge to God, —To him that judgeth the highest?
23 En dør jo på Lykkens Tinde, helt tryg og så helt uden Sorger:
One dieth in the fulness of his prosperity, Being wholly at ease and quiet;
24 hans Spande er fulde af Mælk, hans Knogler af saftig Marv;
His sides are full of fat, And his bones moist with marrow.
25 med bitter Sjæl dør en anden og har aldrig nydt nogen Lykke;
Another dieth in bitterness of soul, And hath not tasted pleasure.
26 de lægger sig begge i Jorden, og begge dækkes af Orme!
Alike they lie down in the dust, And the worms cover them.
27 Se, jeg kender så vel eders Tanker og de Rænker, I spinder imod mig,
Behold, I know your thoughts, And the devices by which ye wrong me.
28 når I siger: "Hvor er Stormandens Hus og det Telt, hvor de gudløse bor?"
For ye say, “Where is the house of the oppressor, And where the dwelling-places of the wicked?”
29 Har I aldrig spurgt de berejste og godkendt deres Beviser:
Have ye never inquired of travellers, And do ye not know their tokens,
30 Den onde skånes på Ulykkens Dag og frelses på Vredens Dag.
That the wicked is spared in the day of destruction, And that he is borne to his grave in the day of wrath?
31 Hvem foreholder ham vel hans Færd, gengælder ham, hvad han gør?
Who will charge him with his conduct to his face, And who will requite him for the evil he hath done?
32 Til Graven bæres han hen, ved hans Gravhøj holdes der Vagt;
Even this man is borne with honor to the grave; Yea, he watcheth over his tomb.
33 i Dalbunden hviler han sødt, Alverden følger så efter, en Flok uden Tal gik forud for ham.
Sweet to him are the sods of the valley: And all men move after him, As multitudes without number before him.
34 Hvor tom er den Trøst, som I giver! Eders Svar - kun Svig er tilbage!
Why then do ye offer your vain consolations? Your answers continue false.
